Spring retainer



June I 1926. 1,587,224

H. M. FUNNELL SPRING RETAINER Filed Feb. 9, 1925 Patented June 1, 1926.

UNITED STATEg HARRY MAWSON FUNNELL, OF DUNELLEN, NEW JERSEY.

SPRING RETAINER.

Application filed February 9, 1925. Serial No. 7,975.

My invention relates to spring retainers especially for use on encaseduniversal joints where two casings are held together in operatingposition by the action of a spring 21 so that the wear of any packing inthe easings is readily compensated, and has for its object theproduction of a spring retainer that can be installed without the use ofany tools thereby presenting a convenient and 10 ready means of removingthe outside casing and inspecting the joint.

The foregoing and other features of my invention will now be describedin connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of thisspecification in which I have represented my spring retainer in itspreferred form after which I shall point out more particularly in theclaims those features which I believe to be new and of my 9 owninvention.

In the drawings Figure 1is a side elevation of my spring retainerassembled in part section.

Figure 2-is an end elevation thereof looking trom the right of Figure 1.

Figure 3is an end view of the joint mem her with the retaining ringremoved.

Figure A is a plan view of my retainer ring.

.3 Figure 5-is a section thereof on line 5-5 Figure 1-.

Figure 6illustrates my spring retainer as installed on a standardencased universal joint.

35 Figure T isa view as in Figure 6 at right angles thereto.

In the carrying out of my invention I emaloy a universal joint member 10provided with a groove 11 and a flange 12 which is oval in shape as willbe readily understood by referring to Figure 3.

A retainer ring is provided with a flange 21 and a central oval opening22 flanged as at 23 on opposite ends of the oval. This oval'is about thesame size as the oval flange 12 on the joint member so that the ring canbe readily slipped over it, and when turned through an arc of ninetydegrees the flanges 23 embrace the oval flange 12 at the small diameterwhich holds the ring in place. It will be observed by reterring toFigure 2 that the flanges 23 e111- brace the small part of the ovalflange 12 and the ends of these flanges will ride on the large part ofthe oval flange 12 thereby preventing rotation of the ring 20 until thering 20 is pressed forward, to the left in Figure 1, so that flanges 23are clear of the oval flange 12.

As an application of my invention to a 00 universal joint I haveillustrated in Figures 6 and 7 a standard encased universal jointshowing a flange 30, joint member 31 all encased by means of insidecasing 32 and outside casing 33. This outside casing slides over theinside casing and allows for an operating angle for the joint. To keepthese twb casings close together and to compensate for wear of a packingheld in the annular ring 3 a spring 35 is provided. This spring is heldin place by my retainer ring 20 and when turned through an are of ninetydegrees releases the spring permitting the withdrawal of the outsidecasing 33 from the inside casing 32 and the joint may be 76 inspectedand refilled with lubricant if necessary.

I wish it distinctly underswg g 1 spring retainer for univer a j ihefejif-" described and lllUStl Mlgjn the {own in 80 which I de iconstruct it but that changes or varl ions may be made as may beconvenient O1" desirable without departing from theTsalient featuresofmy invention and I, therefore, intend the following claims to coversuch modifications as mat: urally fall within the lines of invention.

I claim:

1. A spring retainer for encased universal joint comprising ajointmember formed with an oval flange thereon, a retainer ring provided withan oval hole adapted to go over the end o1 the joint member, said ringand joint member provided with integral interfltting means to hold thering from as turning in either direction.

2. A spring retainer for an encased universal joint comprising a jointmember formed with an oval flange thereon, a retainer ring provided withan oval hole adapted to go over the flange on the joint member, meanscarried by the ring member to lock the two together preventing the ringfrom turning in either direction.

3. A spring retainer for an encased universal joint comprising a. jointmember formed with an oval flange thereon, a retainer ring providedwitha flange on its eriphery and a central opening adapted to P r th lfl ge as the joint mas ber said ring provided With flanges adaptedperiphery and an oval central opening, said to straddle the oval flangeat its small diring being flanged on the ends of the oval an'ieter.

opening and adapted to straddle the oval 10 4-. A spring retainer for anencased uniflange at its small diameter.

5 Wise joint comprising a joint member ln testimony whereof I aflix mysignature.

formed with an oval flange thereon, "a re lainer ring provided with aflange on its HARRY MAWSON FUNNELL.

